Daniel Webster Turner was born in Corning, Iowa, on March 17, 1877. He graduated from the Corning Academy in 1894 and went into business with his father two years later. In 1898, he enlisted in the 51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served in the Phillipines during the Spanish American War. Turner married Alice Sample in 1900. They had three children, Marjorie, Ned, and Thomas.

In 1903, Turner was elected to the State Senate and served through three regular sessions and two special sessions. An excellent public speaker, Turner delivered the keynote address at three Republican State Conventions. Daniel Turner was elected Governor of Iowa in 1930 and served one term. During his term, he was forced to call out the National Guard to enforce the mandatory testing of cattle for tuberculosis.

During World War I, Turner served with the YMCA in France. In World War II, he worked for the War Production Board in Washington, D.C. He was in charge of prison war production, a plan whereby inmates produced goods for the war effort. During the 1950's he worked for the National Farmers Organization.

Daniel Turner died on April 15, 1969, at the age of 92.

The Papers of Daniel Webster Turner consist of 2.5 linear feet of materials dating from 1898- 1969 and are arranged chronologically within an alphabetical order. The subject files range from a diary Turner kept during the Spanish American War to his work with the National Farmers Organization. There are ten folders of correspondence, with letters from such notables as: Ezra Taft Benson, Whitney Gillilland, H.R. Gross, Bourke B. Hickenlooper, Leo A. Hoegh, Ben F. Jensen, Estes Kefauver, Gus T. Kuester, Robert D. Ray, and Otha D. Wearin. Also included are materials relating to farm conditions, Farm Holiday, the War Production Board, and Turner's gubernatorial campaign.